MORE BREAKING NEWS FROM THE 2008 L.A. AUTO SHOW

Hyundai has an impressive goal. It wants to become the most fuel-efficient automaker on the planet, according to Hyundai's John Krafcik, vice president of product development and strategic planning. The first step to hit that mark is a new line of "Blue" edition Accents and Elantras that are set to hit the market in 2009. Think of these models as Hyundai's answer to Chevrolet's XFE lineup. The cars will not only be the lowest price versions of the Accent and Elantra, but they will offer the highest fuel economy too, thanks to aerodynamic tweaks, a lowered suspension, taller gearing, low-rolling-resistance tires and, of course, weight savings. Krafcik mentioned that these models would also benefit from reducing the idle speeds. "If you can take idle speeds down from 600 rpm to 525 rpm on a V6 car, there's is a 3 to 4 percent fuel-economy bump right there." He said.

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Soon gasoline direct injection (GDI) will become a part of the mix to help meet future fuel-economy targets as well. Hyundai's HED-5i concept vehicle that debuted at this year's Geneva Motor Show was powered by a 2.0-liter 286-hp four-cylinder GDI that was said to hit more than 30 mpg highway. Hyundai has announced that it will produce a production version of that crossover concept and that the GDI motor shown on the concept will appear in various Hyundai products in the near future. In fact, Krafcik says, the next generation of "Blue" Hyundai vehicles will offer GDI engines and command a slight premium ($300 to $400) for the fuel economy bump.

Fuel economy tweaks and GDI are good. But without hybrids, Hyundai's fuel-efficiency goal would be tough to meet. So the first Hyundai hybrid is set to arrive in model year 2011 on the next-generation Sonata. Krafcik says, "It's interesting to hear how many people say they want a hybrid as their next vehicle; it's about 40 percent of midsize sedan intenders." The system, which Hyundai calls Blue Drive, is a conventional parallel hybrid system but will use 30 percent lighter, 50 percent less volume and 10 percent more efficient lithium-polymer batteries from LG Chem instead of traditional nickel-metal-hydride packs. Hyundai says the packs have 175 percent greater volumetric efficiency so that they can devote less space and weight to the battery pack. And Hyundai says the batteries can hold their charge 20 times longer. Krafcik expects the Sonata hybrid to "stretch beyond current in-market competition." He says, "It's a pretty safe bet to say we will beat the current Camry hybrid."

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So why lithium polymer and not lithium ion? Well, Hyundai says its packs are more durable, cost less to produce and have a higher energy density. And lithium polymer is said to offer more thermal robustness—think back to those lithium-ion laptop batteries. Hyundai wants to make sure that these packs will last at least 10 years and 150,000 miles.

Two years after the Sonata hits the market, Hyundai will offer its first plug-in hybrid. Krafcik says it will be on the market in 2012 as a 2013 model product. The car would likely take one of two directions: It would either be based on the next-generation Sonata or could use a dedicated body style not unlike the Prius, Volt or Insight. "We definitely have plug-in in our forward model plan." But he adds, "We are not saying that the Sonata will be the first plug-in hybrid. It could be a Sonata plug-in or a unique platform and body shell. We've still got time to make that decision."

Whichever body style Hyundai uses for its first plug-in, it's certain with the Volt, Prius and more in the works: The next decade will be the decade of the plug-in electric vehicle. —Ben Stewart